Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 102573 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 513(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102573 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 513(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
“I heard that part. Why did you not come forward there and then?” Bhric asked.
“I hurried out before anyone saw me for fear of what Marta might do to me if I challenged her words. She is unfair to the MacShane servants when they displease her, which is often. She leaves some to work endless hours and get little sleep, so they often fall asleep while working. But after I heard what was being said about Lady Tavia, I could not hold my tongue. My lady has been kind to me. She calls me by my name, asks how I am doing when she sees me. She is a good woman and I do not believe she is a witch.”
“How long have you worked in this keep, Shea?” Bhric asked.
“Since I was little. My mother worked here, she is gone two years now, and she would bring me with her. This was my home, and Lord Donald treated all of us well.”
“But now my arrival here changed that?”
“Marta’s arrival changed that, my lord,” Shea said, her voice turning low without realizing it.
“I am grateful that you had the courage to come forward and tell me the truth,” Bhric said. “You will be rewarded for it.”
“That is not necessary, my lord, I just want Lady Tavia to be safe.”
Bhric thought on her words after she left. His wife was not safe with all the lies being told about her, but who was telling them and why?
He made his way to his bedchamber. He had much to discuss with his wife. He only hoped she would talk with him, though it did not matter for he had much to say to her.
CHAPTER 20
Bhric should not have been surprised or annoyed not to find his wife in his bedchamber. She was angry with him and rightfully so, but he would not have her anger fester and grow a wedge between them. He did not want that, not ever.
He opened the door that connected their bedchambers and found her sitting by the hearth, Fen sleeping beside her, though his head shot up. When he saw it was Bhric, he dropped his head down but kept his eyes open.
“A servant told me you sent for Hertha. Are you not feeling well?” he asked as he approached her.
“I feel fine. I but wished to speak with her,” Tavia said, keeping her word to speak the truth to him. She waited assuming he would want to know what they discussed and was surprised by his response.
Bhric stretched his hand out to her. “Come and sup with me. There is much for us to discuss.”
She knew she was being petulant, but she was angry at him and with herself for believing they could have a good marriage but mostly because she allowed herself to fall in love with him when there was no chance of him feeling anything for her at all.
“I am not hungry. I am tired and shall sleep here in my bedchamber tonight.”
“That is not going to happen, wife,” he said and reached down and scooped her up off the bench and into his arms. “Stay!” he ordered Fen abruptly when the hound hurried to his feet.
“I am safe, Fen.” Tavia was quick to tell the hound, fearful he might attack Bhric if she did not alert him that she was not in danger. She slipped her arms around her husband’s wide neck as he carried her to his bedchamber and whispered, “You do not mean me harm, do you, my lord?”
“That would depend, wife,” he said, kicking his bedchamber door closed behind him, “if you consider a good pounding from me harm.”
He had planned on supping with her and talking, telling her what Shea told him, but when he snatched her up in his arms his only thought had been to give her a good pounding, to make her realize she belonged to him and always would and that nothing, no one would ever come between them.
He dropped her on the bed, and he was not surprised to see passion flare in her eyes. There was something that connected them, and it had nothing to do with her bewitching him. It was something he had not expected but he welcomed.
Love. He loved his wee wife, her limp and all, and he wanted her to love him.
“Listen well, wife, for you will rarely hear me say… I was wrong. And you have my word that never will I fail to come to your defense again.”
Tavia felt as if all the pieces to her heart miraculously rushed back together, and she was once again filled with joy… and love. Though as angry as she was with him, that she loved him could not be denied. That would be impossible for he had somehow worked his way into her heart, always to remain there.